Ardson



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. J. T. PENNY 8v W. H. RICHARDSON. APPARATUSFOR TRITURATING AND AMALGAMATING AUR'IPEROUS AND ARGENTIFEROUS DRES.

No. 552,392. Patented Dec. 31, 1895. y

.A www um 17% ZMM in A 77'0HNEYS Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'. J. T. PENNY 8v W.H. RICHARDSON. APPARATUS FOR TRITURATING AND AMALGAMATING AURIFEROUS (NoModel.)

AND ARGENTIFEROUS GRES.

Patented Dec. 3l, 1895.

W/ TNE SSE 8,'

NIrRo" STATES' PATENT "Ormeal .IOHN rI-IOMAs PENNY AND 'WILLIAM HENRYRICHARDSON, or ADRLAIDE,

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

APPARATUS FOR TRITURATING AND AMALGAMATING AURIFEROUS AND ARGENTIFEROUSORES.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Lettersv Patent No. 552,392, dated December31, 1895.

Application lled May 9, 1895. Serial No. 548,714. (No model.)

fo all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that we, JOHN THOMAS PENNY, mining agent, and VILLIAM HENRYRICH- ARDsON, engineer, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residingat Grenfell Street,

Adelaide, in the Province of South Australia,

have invented n ew and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Trituratingand Amalgamating Auriferous and Argentiferous Orcs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to the treatment of gold and silver bearing oreswhich have been reduced to the consistency of pulp or slimes. The goldor silver in such ores being disseminated through them in an extremelyfinelydivided state it has hitherto been found practically impossible toeffect, especially with certain classes of ores, such as kaolin, aseparation of the metal from the gangue. Ve propose to accomplish thisby repeated trituration under such pressure and at such high rate ofspeed as will develop considerable heat by friction, combiningalternately with such trituration an amalgamation assisted bypercussion.

The obj ect of our invention is to provide a machine in which theore-pulp can be repeatedly triturated to extreme neness between platesof iron, one or both of which may be driven at a high speed underpressure, and to so arrange that, between each triturating operation,the metallic contents are amalgamated by the ore being thrown bycentrifugal force from the triturating-plates against the sides of theamalgamators. We further provide a distributer and a settling-pan, inwhich final amalgamation takes place before the discharge of thetailings or waste.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating our invention, Figure I is asectional elevation of the apparatus complete; FiO. II, a plan of thefeeding-hopper with supply-openings, showing radial arms for support ofsame; Fig. III, a plan of the carrier of the top triturating-plate. Fig.IV is a plan view of the top triturating-plate; Fig. V, a plan of thecarrier of bottom triturating-plate. Fig. VI is a plan view of thebottom trituratingfplate; Fig. VII, a plan of distributer; Fig. VIII, a

l sectional elevation of collar on central shaft;

Fig. IX, a plan of the same; Fig. X, a plan of settling or finalamalgamating-pan.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in allfigures.

A is the circular casing in which the working parts are contained, andwhich is supported upon a solid bed or base A; B, a central verticalshaft, the middle upper portion of which is squared for the purposehereinafter described. The center shaft B is dri ven by means ofgear-wheels B B2, the latter being keyed to a main driving-shaft B3,revolving in suitable bearings and provided with fast and loose pulleysB4 B5 and with a flywheel B6. The vertical shaft B is supported on asuitable end bearing C, arranged in a bar C', hinged to the base A. Thebar C is provided with a suitable screw attachment G2, by means of whichit can be raised or lowered as required, and the shaft B correspondinglyaffected. The upper end of the shaft B revolves in a suitable bearing Dfixed in the center of cross pieces D. The crosspieces D are supportedby converging angle or cast-iron frames D2, arranged at opposite sidesoutside the casing A, and having their lower ends bolted to the base A.The cas-` ing is provided with a circular feed-hopper E, havingpreferably three feed-openings E'. The hopper E is supported by a castpiece having three radial arms E2,Fig. II. Through the chutes E the pulpor slimes are delivered into the machine in a continuous stream inpreferably regulated quantities, the hopper E being fed from anysuitable source of supply. Through the end of each of the radial arms E2a vertical bar F is passed. These vertical bars F are provided with aseries of collars F', for the purpose hereinafter more particularlydescribed, and upon back nuts, screwed upon each upper end, is placedthe respective radial arm E2, the whole being securely held together bymeans of screw-nuts F2, placed at the top and bottom of the bars F.

As before described, the upper middle portion of the vertical shaft B issquared in order that there may be built upon it a series of collars,Fig. VIII, together with the carriers of the lowertriturating-plates,Fig.V. A slioulder I3T is formed upon the shaft B,and above it the shaft is squared as before described.

On this shoulder is placed a circular bottom plate G, and upon it acollar II, Fig. VIII, provided with a lower flange II. The collars IIare square-shaped, and are provided with a square opening, as shown inFig. IX, of sucli size as to iit the square of the central shaft B. Overthe collar II which rests on the plate G is placed a second flangedcollar II. This second ilan ged collar is provided with an india rubberblock or other sprin g ll2 extending up` ward about half of the heightof the collar. Over the collar II, and upon the india-rubber or otherspring H2, is placed the carrier I of the lower triturating-plate, asshown more particularly in Fig. V. This carrier I is provided with asquared central opeiiin fitting over the square of the collar II, andthe body of the plate is bent or otherwise cast in the form as shownmore particularly in section in Fig. I. The carrier-plate I is providedwith three or more holes I', into which drop siinilai' proj ections,cast or otherwise formed on the bottom of the lower triturating-plate.The lower triturating-plate I2, as shown more particularly in plan inFig. VI, is provided with a central circular opening` l2, and with threeor more deep recesses Il radiating therefrom. The plate I2 is providedwith pins or studs I5 cast on its lower surface in suoli position and ofsuch size as to intimately engage the openings I in the lower carrier I.Upon the upper surface of this lower triturating-plate,and having itslower surface in intimate connection with it, is placed the uppertriturating-plate'K of the form as shown more particularly in plan inFig. IV. The upper triturating-plate K has also a central opening K',and is provided with recesses K2 somewhat shallower than the recessesI'L in the lower trituratin g-plate I2. The upper trituratin g-plate Kis also pro videdwith suitable studs or projections K2, cast on itsupper surface for the purpose of engaging similar openings in itscarrier. This carrier L is of the form as shown more particularly inplan in Fig. III. It is provided with a circular opening L of similarsize to the circular openings in the upper and lower triturating-platesK and I2, and with suitable holes L2 for the purpose of engaging studsK3 in the upper triturating-plate K as before described. To the carrierL are bolted or otherwise secured three arms L2. These are bent upwardand outward in the forni as shown more particularly in Fig'. I, and eachouter end is provided with a suitable opening L4 fitting over thevertical bar F as before described.

As shown in Fig. I, it will be seen that the pairs of triturating-platesare built up in series one over the other until a sufficient number havebeen placed upon the vertical shaft to extend upward su lliciently nearthe top of the machine. This building is affected by placing one abovethe other as before described with collar II and spring II2 upon collarand spring until the whole is complete. The screw-nuts F2 at the top and bottom of the vertical bars F are then tightened, and the whole of theradial arms L3 of the upper carriers L become rigidly fixed. The centralshaft B is then raised by means of a screw attachnient C2 and the hingedbar C', until the lower trit urating-plates I2are in intimate connectionwith the upper triturating-plates K. By means of the same screw attaclimcnt the pressure of the lower upon the upper triturating-platcs can beadjusted according to the class and character of ore under treatment,and whether greater or less friction is required for its successfultrituration.

The orc as fed from the supplyhoppen passes through the feed-openin gsE, and falls into a central chute M. This, as shown in section in Fig.I, is cone-shaped, and is securely fixed to and rotated by the uppermostcarrier L of the series. The central chute M is provided with a circularopening of similar size to the central openings L,I2, an d K. Its outeredges aie cai'ried upward suiiiciently high to prevent the ore contentsfrom splashing over during its revolution. The ore directed by thisfeed-chute M iills the circular openings in thetriturating-plates, andby means of the recesses I4 and K2 flows between them. The plates I2 andK are in the meantime driven in opposite directions by tlie deviceshereinafter described, at ahigh rate of speed, the ore being finallydischarged in a continuous stream from their outer edge. The triturationmaybe carried on by a single or double action of the plates. In a singleaction the lower trituratin g-plate I2 only revolves, the uppertriturating-plate K and the amalgamators being stationary. In a doubleaction the bottoni plate is revolved at a high rate of speed, and theupper plate K and amalgamators in the opposite direction at a lowerrate.

For combining amalgamation with percussion with this rapid trituration aseries of circular amalgamating-pans are placed between the series oftiturating devices. These amalgamating-pans N are preferably formed asshown in section in Fig. I. They are constructed with a central openingof similar dimensions to that, L', of the upper carrier L, and beingsecurely fixed upon it toward its center, rotate with it when in doubleaction. It will be seen by reference to Fig. I that theseamalgamating-pans N are cone-shaped toward their base, and that theupper portion is dished at N, so as to form a ri'l'lie iii which mercurycan be placed. The pan is then bent upward and turned inward uponitself, in order to prevent the ore from being splashed over whenforcibly thrown into it from between the triturating-plates. In this waythe oie passing through the first triturator is thrown with forceagainst the curved upper portion of the amalgamating-pan N. The pei'-cussion causes a portion of the metal to be amalgamated, and togradually move down with a certain amount of attrition into the TOO TIO

riftle N'. The ore is carried over, down the cone-shaped base into thecircular opening` in next triturator of the series, to be dischargedfrom it in a similar manner into a similar amalgamating-pan, and so onalternately triturating and ainalgamating with percussion until thelowest series of the amalgamatingpans is reached.

XVe find in actual practice -that the greater portion of the metalliccontents of the ore is caught in its passage over the series ofamalgamating-pans,as before described; but in order to extract anytraces of metal which may be left, the ore is discharged from the lowestamalgamating-pan N into the center of a circular distributer O made ofcopper, in the form as shown more particularly in FigVII. The center ofthis distributer O is prolonged upward in the form of a cone O', asshown in section in Fig. I. The outer wall of the distributer O isformed of a series of upwardlyprojecting plates O2, the corners beingleft open, as shown in Fig. VII, in order to allow of the passage of thestuff. The distributer O being placed upon the plate G, is revolved at ahigh rate of speed, so that the ore-pulp is discharged by centrifugalforce through the opening as provided. It is thrown against a circularamalgamated copper shield P', provided with a rifle and fixed to thelowest proj ecting arm L3 of the series. From the shield P' the pulp isdischarged by a circular plate P into a settling-pan, where it isfinally amalgamated, and the tailings and refuse discharged in acontinuous strea1n,as hereinafter described.

The triturating-plates may be provided with a single, but preferablywith a double7 action, as before described. The revolution of the seriesof lower'triturating-plates is accomplished, as before described, by thesquared openings in the lower carriers I fitting over the squared collarH,which itself is fitted upon the shaft B, the shaft B being driven bygearwheels B' and B2 from the main shaft B3, the base-plate G and thedistributer O being driven in the same direction. The upper triturating-plates and amalgamatingpans when in double action are driven in theopposite direction by the lower ends of the rods F being passed throughthe radial arms Q' cast upon a crown gear-wheel Q driven by a beveledwheel Q secured to the main drivingshaft B4.

After passing through the machine the orepulp is delivered from thedischarge-plate P into a circular' settling-pan or race R, formed ofcopper and having vertical divisions R', as shown in plan in Fig. X andin section in Fig. l. The settling-pan or race R is supported in anysuitable manner from the base a' and is intended to be stationary. Thewalls R' formed in the race R by the vertical divisions R' areamalgamated and the bottom of the wells supplied with mercury. Theorepulp,being discharged into the innermost well R2, travels in thedirection of the arrows, as

i shown, and to be finally, discharged from the frame S', the ends ofwhich are bolted to a circular plate S2, which sits loosely upon collarQ4 placed upon the central shaft B. Motion is imparted to the rakes S bya crank attachment S3 loosely attached by means of a screwbolt to atoothed wheel S4. The toothed wheel S4 is driven by a small toothedwheel S5, secured to the main driving-shaft B3. By means of thislvibrating motion of the rakes S the ore is slowly kept in suspensionand flows forward in the settling-pan or race R in the direction of thearrows, as before described, the heavier particles being allowed tosettle and any metal contained therein being finally amalgamated. Theconcentrates and amalgam are drawn from an outlet provided for thepurpose, the light stuft or tailings being carried over the discharge.

In the treatment of certain classes of ore it may be necessary to addcertain chemicals in order to asist in the extraction of the metalliccontents. This should be done prior to the ore being introduced into ourmachine for trituration, but such addition forms no part of ourinvention.

We are aware that the trituration and subsequent amalgamation offinely-divided ores is not new, such treatment being the object of ourformer invention, for which we have obtained United States of AmericaLetters Patent No. 445,300; also, that ore has been previously groundbetween circular mullers and discharged into an outer annularamalgamating well or pan, but our invention, as before described,differs essentially from these former inventions, both in purpose andconstruction, in the following respects: The purpose of such grinding isa further reduction of coarse ore. Our machine receives the ore aftersuch further reduction, for a trituration to impalpable fineness,involving a considerable' amount of friction, and consequently increaseof temperature. Such trituration is caused to alternate with anamalgamation with percussion. The ore pulp is trturated and amalgamatedunder percussion in a rotating amalgamator, alternately again and again,until it has passed through the machine. Such amalgamation isaccompanied by sharp percussion of the ore against the walls of theamalgamating-pan, causing the metals to be automatically separated fromthe gangue, and the amalgamation to be materially assisted. Thealternate trituration and amalgamation is combined with the finalamalgamation with percussion by means of a distributer, and a furtheramalgamation in a settling-pan before final discharge of the tailings.Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declarethat what We claim is- 1. In combination with the series of plates IOOIIO

arranged in pairs With means for revolving the plates of each pair inopposite directions, means for feeding the ore between the upper pair ofplates at the center, and an annular pan having a raised Wallsurrounding each pair of plates to catch the material thrown therefrom,said pan having an annular amalgamating channel and a funnel shapedbottom for conveying the material to the central portion of the nextpair of plates, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the series of plates arranged in pairs andrevolving in opposite directions, the amalgamating pans arranged toreceive the ore from one pair of plates and convey it to the next, thedistributer plat-e O having a conical center and a perforated outerWall, and an annular shield surrounding said outer wall and arranged toreceive the material thrown therefrom, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the triturating plates, and amalgamating pans,the stationary settling pan having a series of annular partitionsforming zigzag passageways, the rocking bar having rakes carried onopposite ends thereof with fingers depending into the passageways, andmeans for rocking said bar, substantially as described.

4:. ln combination, the central shaft, the series of triturating platescarried thereby, the top and bottom radial arms j ournalcd on the shaft7the Vertical rods connecting said radial arms, the'seeond set oftriturating plates supported from the vertical rods, means for rotatingthe central shaft in one direction and means for rotating the radialarms and rods in the opposite, substantially as described. 4

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHhT THOMAS PENNY. WILLIAM. HENRY RHIHARDSON. lVitnesses:

FRANCIS H. SNOW, C. STANLEY BURenss.

